Is fish really brain food?

Question

I've tasted fish before and sometimes I keep eating it but I don't seem to have gotten any smarter.

Answer 1

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The Good News!

Fish - especially coldwater fish, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and herring-are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that have been found to be very important for brain function.

Fatty acids from fats are what your brain uses to create the specialized cells that allow you to think and feel.

Clinical research indicates omega-3 fatty acids are most important for brain health - they provide the physical building blocks necessary for the development and maintenance of the structural and functional integrity of the brain.

In fact, one of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, commonly known as DHA, makes up a large portion of the gray matter in the brain. Adding more DHA to your brain directly influences cell-to-cell communication, affects nerve conduction and neurotransmitter release, and other things that allow brain cells to send messages to each other.

The Better News: Other Health Benefits of Fish

Depression: Surveys suggest that groups with the highest fish consumption have the lowest rates of depression. The Japanese eat the most fish and have the lowest rates of depression in the world. Inflammation in the brain plays a large role in depression and omega-3s have anti-inflammatory effects.

Alzheimer Disease: Researchers at the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging in Chicago compared the fish-eating patterns of more than 800 men and women ages 65 to 94 and then checked to see whether they developed Alzheimer disease several years later. Results showed that those who ate at least one fish meal a week were significantly less likely to end up with Alzheimer disease than those who never-or hardly ever-ate fish.

Stroke: According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, if you increase your fish intake to once a week, the risk of stroke could go down by 22 percent. Two to four times a week reduces risk to 27%, and eating fish five times a week or more brings down the risk of stroke by up to 52 percent.

Healthy Heart: The omega-3s found in fish cut the risk of blood clots and thus lessen the chance of a heart attack. The American Heart Association recommends that you eat two servings or more of fish a week.

Cancer: Fish eaters have been reported to have low risks of cancers of the mouth, throat, stomach, colon, rectum, pancreas, lung, breast, and prostate. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are thought by some researchers to be the components of fish responsible for protection against cancer. Many doctors recommend fish as part of an anticancer diet.
The Not-So-Good News ... You Must BEWARE Mercury in Fish

While the health and nutritional benefits of fish are high, widespread contamination of fish with toxic mercury is a very serious concern.

Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury, a highly toxic element found both naturally and as an introduced contaminant in the environment.

For most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. The risk depends on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury found in that particular fish.

Yet, some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and many health experts advise women who may become pregnant, who are pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some to all types of fish due to their potential high mercury contents.

The following is a list of higher- and lower-mercury risk fish. The FDA recommends women who are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant or nursing, and young children, should not eat the fish in the High-Mercury column. Everyone else can eat up to 7 ounces of high-mercury fish per week, although it's highly recommended to eat fish found in the Lower-Mercury column.

High-Mercury Fish

Shark
Swordfish
King Mackerel
Tilefish
Grouper
Marlin
Orange Roughy Lower-Mercury Fish
Anchovies
Calamari (squid)
Pollock
Catfish
Whitefish
Perch (ocean)
Scallops
Flounder
Haddock
Hake
Herring
Shad
Sole
Salmon
Tilapia
Sardines
Trout (freshwater)

Answer 2

Mercury poisoning from fish can purpose Blindness Cerebral palsy Deafness Growth disorders Mental retardation Microcephaly (small head) so, but, it's dangerous to devour an excessive amount of of exact varieties of fish and seafood.

Answer 3

There are some people that eating the whole fish in the world can't make them smarter. But at least, you are wise. Only wise people know they are not smart.

Answer 4

Well, Fish is high in Omega 3 so it's good for you. But I wouldn't eat it a lot, some fish have some mercury in them.

Answer 5

I don't think so. I fish all the time and I'm STILL not smarter than them.

Answer 6

fish is a really god thing for your hole body but omega 3 is the best natural thing for your Brain

Answer 7

Less time eating more time thinking. You are getting wiser by asking this Question. From it you will learn

Answer 8

I have heard the expression "fishbrain" used as an insult so it doesn't shed much light on the subject for me.

Answer 9

Fish is heart food.Probably you are now more kind hearted.

Answer 10

Would you eat a worm with a big hook sticking out of it?